Electrical Discharge Immobilization Weapon Projectile Having Multiple Deployed Contacts

ABSTRACT

A unitary projectile for an immobilization weapon and tethered by two electrical wires, has a plurality of electrical contacts including several contacts dispersed in a spaced pattern around the projectile after target impact. The pattern of several contacts substantially increases the probability that if the projectile hits the target, an immobilization circuit through the target will be completed. The deployment of the contacts occurs as a result of the sudden deceleration of the projectile when it impacts the target. This simplifies the deployment as well as the projectile configuration and likely reduces the risk of misactivation or an ill-timed activation of the second contacts. In a preferred version of the disclosed embodiments, there are preferably four contacts dispersed in a symmetrical arrangement around the projectile. The immobilization voltage in preferably applied to one pair of opposed contacts and then to the other in an oscillating fashion in order to increase the likelihood of disabling effect.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior pending application Ser. No. 11/110,201 filed on Apr. 20, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of non-lethal weapons for immobilizing a live target for capture and more specifically to such a weapon having a wire-tethered projectile configured for long distance usage by employing wires carrying positive and negative polarities from a high voltage source and contacts for applying the voltage across the target, the distance between the contacts on the target being substantially constant irrespective of distance to the target.

2. Prior Art

This invention is intended as an improvement over the invention disclosed in previously issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,199 to McNulty, Jr. et al. That prior art patent discloses an immobilization weapon which employs a projectile launched toward a remote target and having two connectors for applying a high voltage discharge across spaced locations on the target. A key innovation of that invention is the use of a first connector on the projectile and a second connector contained within the projectile. The second connector is deployed after the projectile impacts the target by using a propulsion device for actuating separation of the second connector from the projectile at a selected angle so that the second connector impacts the target at a fixed spacing relative to the first connector impact location.

The discussion of the existing prior art in the '199 patent disclosure is quite thorough and comprehensive and is therefore hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

A principal advantage of the '199 invention is derived from the fixed spacing between the first and second connectors. More specifically, because the spacing is determined by the design and configuration of the projectile and the second connector's orientation prior to deployment, the spacing does not change regardless of the distance traveled by the projectile before reaching the target. This contrasts with more conventional Taser™ projectiles which use two propulsion deployed connector darts which separate by a distance proportional to their travel distance to a remote target. Thus, these connector darts may be too close together at close targets and too far apart at distant targets. Therefore, these conventional Taser™ devices are severely limited in their range of effectiveness which the '199 patent disclosure reported as 3 to 12 feet.

There are two distinct limitations to the '199 invention. One such limitation is the use of only one second connector. Even though the '199 constitutes a significant advance of the then existing prior art, having just one second connector incurs the risk of an ineffective shot because the second connector may still fail to attach to the target or may entirely miss the target if the first connector is close to the edge of the target and the orientation of the projectile causes the second connector to travel beyond that edge. Another such limitation is the use of a secondary propulsion device to deploy the second connector. if the secondary propulsion device fails to activate or activates too early or too late, the operation and effectiveness of the weapon will likely fail.

It would be highly advantageous to exploit the innovative concept disclosed in the '199 patent, but in a manner which overcomes such limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides improved implementation of the immobilization weapon concept that employs a single projectile with multiple contacts. The present invention overcomes the aforementioned limitations by utilizing several contacts deployed in a pattern around the projectile and by obviating the use of a secondary propulsion device. The pattern of several contacts substantially increases the probability that if the projectile hits the target, an immobilization circuit through the target will be completed. The deployment of the contacts occurs as a result of the projectile impacting the target and causing a plunger to translate and thereby enable release of the contact arms. This simplifies the deployment as well as the projectile configuration and likely reduces the risk of misactivation or an ill-timed activation of the contacts.

In a preferred version of the disclosed embodiments, each projectile has at least two and preferably four contacts dispersed in a preferably symmetrical arrangement around the projectile. These contacts are formed as elongated arms which are folded aerodynamically behind the projectile during flight and which open about respective fulcrums to form an array of spider-like legs after impact. Pointed barbs are used to promote attachment to the target.

The preferred embodiment applies a disabling voltage across two opposing contacts of the four total contacts and then switches to the other two opposing contacts that are in perpendicular relation to the first two. This switching is rapidly repeated on a pulse by pulse basis to increase the likelihood of effective application of a disabling current through the target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood herein after as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of he invention in its flight mode;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in its target deployed mode;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment in its target deployed mode;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional partially cut-away view of a cartridge assembly in which a projectile of the invention is housed before being propelled toward a remote target;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a projectile according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of the rear of the projectile of FIG. 6 taken along lines 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a view of the side of the projectile of FIG. 6 taken along lines 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a circuit used in a preferred embodiment for switching between two sets of opposed contacts on the target; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to an alternative embodiment using an air bag initiator to propel a pair of individual wire-tethered darts to a remote target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment 30 of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 comprises a projectile 32 which has its own barb-shaped member 40 extending forward. Four contact arms 36 extend toward a tether cable 34 within the profile of the projectile which has grooves 35 to hold the arms during flight. Fleshettes or barbs 38 are also within the outer profile of the projectile. On impact with the target (not shown) the arms 36 swing forward around fulcrums 42 allowing barbs 38 to become embedded in the target surface at four symmetrically spaced locations that are in about the same plane having the end of barb 40.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that a cartridge assembly 50 comprises a generally rectangular housing 52 providing an aperture 54 through which a projectile 56 of the present invention is configured to be propelled toward a remote target (not shown). Tether wires 56 are provided in a stowed configuration to minimize required storage volume. Propulsion of the projectile in the embodiment of FIG. 5 may be provided by an air bag initiator 58 of the type manufactured by SDI of Moorpark, Calif. such as their advanced glass-sealed initiator (AGI). This device can achieve a peak pressure output of up to 4,000 PSI in less than 2 milliseconds after application of about 3 Volts DC from a pair of electrical contacts 60.

Operation of the contact arms 36 upon impact with a target may be best understood with reference to FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 shows a two arm version of the projectile in cross-section wherein the center fleshette is affixed to an arm release plunger 62. Upon impact with a target, the plunger moves toward the stowed contact arms 36 where it engages a contact arm retainer 64 which, when released by the plunger, permits the spring-loaded arms to rotate into contact with the target. The operation of the plunger and retainer may be best understood by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. A four-arm version of the invention such as shown in FIGS. 1-4, would be implemented in the same way with a suitably modified retainer.

In the four-arm configuration, the present invention may also comprise a circuit shown in block diagram form in FIG. 9. This circuit is designed to switch voltage application between respective sets of two opposed contact arms using a switch and an oscillator. The purpose of the circuit is to increase the reliability of the disabling effect of the projectile and, in some cases, make it more effective by frequently switching (in a square-wave fashion) between the respective sets of arms.

Another embodiment of the invention herein is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 illustrates a cartridge 72 having a pair of exit apertures 73, FIG. 11 illustrates a dart assembly 70 comprising an initiator 76 and a pair of dart holders 78 in which are positioned a pair of wire-tethered darts 80. One or more baffles may be provided to channel gas pressure from initiator 76 through holders 78 to propel the individual darts 80 toward a remote target via exit apertures 73 of cartridge 72. The respective tether wires (not shown) are located behind the corresponding dart holders 78. Thus FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an air bag initiator version of the present invention employing a pair of wire-tethered darts which operate in an otherwise conventional manner to disable a remote target.

Having thus disclosed alternatives embodiments of the improved weapon, it will now be apparent that various other configurations are possible. By way of example, while it is contemplated to spring load each contact arm so that the arm movement will be more forceful, it is also possible to freely swing the arms into contact position at impact with the target. Accordingly, the scope of protection provided herein is not to be limited by the specification but only by the appended claims and their equivalents. Moreover, any claim term defined in the description should be given the broadest definition commonly ascribed to that term, as the specification is primarily for the purpose of providing illustrative examples of the preferred embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the rights of exclusion afforded hereby. 

I claim:
 1. A dual wire-tethered unitary projectile for use in an electrical discharge immobilization weapon wherein the projectile is fired using a propulsive force toward a remote target for imparting an electrical current through the target after impact; the projectile comprising: a dual wire-tethered projectile body; a plurality of contact arms rotatably secured to the projectile body and having a first stable position during projectile flight toward the target and a second stable position after impact of the projectile with the target; said first stable position being aerodynamic to promote an accurate trajectory of said body; said second stable position forming a pattern of spaced contact arm locations for increasing the probability of electrical contact with said target; wherein transition from said first stable position to said second stable position is implemented by a plunger in said projectile body and which translates in response to projectile impact with a target.
 2. The projectile recited in claim 1 further comprising a retainer for maintaining said contact arms in said first stable position during said projectile flight and wherein said contact arms are configured for movement from said first stable position to said second stable position by said projectile body upon its impact with a target causing movement of said plunger and release of said retainer.
 3. The projectile recited in claim 1 wherein each of said contact arms terminates in a barb for promoting adherence of each contact arm to the target in said second stable position.
 4. The projectile recited in claim 1 wherein said projectile body comprises a plurality of elongated grooves for receiving said contact arms in their first stable position.
 5. The projectile recited in claim 1 wherein said projectile body comprises a contact barb affixed to said plunger and extending toward the target.
 6. The projectile recited in claim 1 said body having an outer profile defined by the dimensions of said body and wherein when said contact arms are in said first stable position, no portion of said arms lies outside said body profile.
 7. The projectile recited in claim 1 further comprising an electronic circuit contained within said body and being connected to each of said contact arms for activating selected ones of said contact arms to provide an effective immobilization current through said target.
 8. The projectile recited in claim 7 wherein said electronic circuit also comprises at least one switch for selecting at least one contact arm to transmit said immobilization current through said target.
 9. The projectile recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of contact arms comprises at least two such contact arms.
 10. The projectile recited in claim 1 wherein said projectile is contained in a cartridge prior to firing and wherein said propulsive force is generated by an air bag initiator within said cartridge.
 11. A dual wire-tethered unitary projectile for use in an electrical discharge immobilization weapon wherein the projectile is fired using a propulsive force toward a remote target for imparting an electrical current through the target after impact; the projectile comprising: a dual wire-tethered projectile body; at least two symmetrically spaced contact members secured to the projectile body and having a first stable position during projectile flight toward the target and a second stable position after impact of the projectile with the target; said first stable position being aerodynamic to promote an accurate trajectory of said body; said second stable position forming a pattern of spaced contact member locations for increasing the probability of electrical contact with said target; wherein transition from said first stable position to said second stable position is implemented by a plunger contained within said projectile body and which translates in response to projectile impact with a target.
 12. The projectile recited in claim 11 wherein said projectile body comprises a central attachment member affixed to the body and extending toward the target for translating said plunger upon impact.
 13. The projectile recited in claim 11 further comprising a retainer for maintaining said contact arms in said first stable position during said projectile flight and wherein said contact members are configured for movement from said first stable position to said second stable position by a sudden deceleration of said projectile body upon its impact with a target causing movement of said plunger and release of said retainer.
 14. The projectile recited in claim 11 wherein each of said contact members terminates in a barb for promoting adherence of each contact member to the target in said second stable position.
 15. The projectile recited in claim 11 further comprising an electronic circuit contained within said body and being connected to each of said contact members for activating selected ones of said contact members to provide an effective immobilization current through said target
 16. The projectile recited in claim 15 wherein said electronic circuit also comprises at least one switch for selecting at least one contact member to transmit said immobilization current through said target.
 17. The projectile recited in claim 11 wherein said projectile is contained in a cartridge prior to firing and wherein said propulsive force is generated by a sudden increase in pressure within said cartridge caused by an air bag initiator.
 18. A wire-tethered projectile for use in an electrical discharge weapon for disabling a remote target upon propulsion of the projectile toward the target by generation of a sudden increase in pressure within a cartridge initially containing said projectile, said projectile-containing cartridge comprising an air bag initiator for causing said sudden increase in pressure in response to application of an electrical current.
 19. The projectile recited in claim 18 wherein a plurality of contact arms are configured to be deployed upon contact of said projectile with said remote target.
 20. The projectile recited in claim 19 wherein said projectile comprises a plunger which translates upon said projectile impact with said target for causing said deployment of said contact arms.
 21. The wire-tethered projectile recited in claim 18 wherein said projectile is one of a pair of projectiles each positioned in a respective dart holder within said cartridge. 